Egypt's antitrust authority chief Mahmoud Momtaz was elected vice chair of the United Nations' top competition and consumer protection forum, the government said in a statement on Thursday. Momtaz, who heads Egypt's Competition Authority (ECA), was appointed to the senior role at the 9th United Nations Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection, held in Geneva on July 7-11. The election marks the latest international recognition of Egypt's growing influence in global antitrust policy. The biennial conference, convened by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), brings together ministers, regulators and policymakers to review international principles governing competition law and enforcement. "The appointment reflects Egypt's active and effective role at the regional and international levels and enhances its position in global competition policy circles," the statement said. As vice chair, Momtaz will lead two high-level sessions on integrating competition and consumer protection frameworks and on the oversight of digital markets. He will also join a panel on competition law and global food supply chains organized by the BRICS Competition Centre. The UN gathering is aimed at supporting open, fair and inclusive markets while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. It is also expected to influence UNCTAD's future programs in technical assistance and capacity building for developing economies—areas Egypt is prioritizing under its national reform agenda. Momtaz's election follows his unanimous appointment last month to the steering committee of the International Competition Network (ICN), making Egypt the first Arab nation represented at that level. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: Y.Yasser
